Thomas Markle Snr. has cut an electronic monitoring device off his ankle, just days after his arrest for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material at his former home in California, it has been reported. Meghan Markle’s father was in custody awaiting a hearing in federal court in Tampa, Florida, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essay said, according to AP. Markle was detained not long after he cut off the ankle bracelet at 1.45am local time, he added.
Markle was detained by the FBI on Friday after the authorities seized items allegedly containing suspected child sexual abuse images in storage in the Los Angeles area.
Approximately 78 items from a storage facility in the Los Angeles area were seized, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material, Essayli said.
He denies wrongdoing and previously called the allegations “sick lies”.
During his arrest last week, Markle was taken from Lakeland, a senior-living home, by ambulance. Hours later, a judge allowed him to be released on the condition that he be electronically monitored, which normally means wearing an ankle tether.
The judge further ordered a mental competency evaluation and required that the report be submitted by November 20.
A joint statement from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and US Attorney’s Office Central California also said that he is not permitted to travel outside the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California, the statement adds.
If convicted, Mr Markle Snr would face at least 20 years in federal prison.
On Tuesday the Duchess of Sussex made her first public appearance since her father was charged with possession of child sex abuse material.
Meghan joined her husband in Brussels, where they were both due to deliver keynote addresses to the European Parliament, however, she decided against giving a speech on online child safety.